Samsung To Unveil First Tizen Device At MWC 2013?

Smartphone market leader Samsung is known for its robust Android-powered devices that pack a punch. Now, per reports, Samsung is gearing up to unveil its first-ever Tizen-powered device at the MWC 2013 in Barcelona.

For the uninitiated, Tizen is an open source operating system for devices, which Samsung is developing in collaboration with Intel.

According to a report from Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, NTT DoCoMo will be the first Japanese carrier to adopt the Tizen device. The report also noted that fans can expect to get a first glimpse of the device at the MWC in Feb. 2013.

"Yomiuri Shimbun (Japanese newspaper) reported that NTT Docomo which is Japans largest carrier will adopt the first Tizen device in their portfolio once its launched by Samsung at Mobile World Congress in February next year," reported SamMobile.

The Japanese newspaper did not disclose any other details of the purported Tizen device like specifications and features. The newspaper's sources, however, divulged that Samsung would be looking to expand its smartphone portfolio with more Tizen-based device as 2013 progresses.

This is not the first time that Samsung's Tizen OS is in the news. Rumors have been rife that Samsung is looking to merge its bada OS with Tizen; however, the company has not confirmed or denied such speculations.

What's more, in Dec. 2012, rumor had it that the model numbers of Samsung's first Tizen devices were GT-I9500 and GT-I9505 (LTE version).

With the MWC 2013 around the corner, we'll just have to wait and see if Samsung eventually announces a Tizen-based device as speculated.